Railway-track construction



July 20,1926 1,593,292

H. H. DlEHL RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 1926 (r I m I Q 3 31 I 1 l g 76 Q "i: L i 4 4i YQ El 21 P72 5' Lil I; a p e v mumummn Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN H. DIEHL, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST VIRGINIA RAIL 00., OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

RAILWAY-TRACK consrnuorron.

Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No. 82,012.

My invention relates, more particularly, to track construction involving switch points connected together for simultaneous movement into and out of different positions relative to the other rails of a track.

My primary objects are to provide means whereby the switch-point structure will be v positively held in the position to which it is moved for directing a vehicle travelling on the track, in the desired direction; to

provide means which shall operate automatically to complete the throw of the switch following the application'thereto'of force moving it in such direction: and to provide means whereby the switch points will be guided into a position in which they will slide over the flanges of the main rails in shifting the switch point structure in opposite directions.

I have devised my-invention for embodiment more particularly in switch-point structures unprovided with switch stands,-

and for use more particularly in mine track construction wherein the operators move the switch-points into dilferent positions by kicking them, thus rendering highly de .sirable the provision of means for producingthe actions as explained above in connection with the recital of my primary objects, whereby it is necessary that the operator kick the switch only part way toward final position inasmuch as the means: provided complete the throw of the switch structure and hold it positively in adjusted position. Referring to the accompanying draw- 1ng: I 1 1 Figure 1 is a plan view of the switchequipped portion of a track embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 3 is an' enlarged section taken at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Figure4, a plan view of one of the two cam plates forming a portion of the structure of the preceding figures.

I have illustrated my invention as'apphed to a switch involving the use of two ,pointrails represented at 5 and 6 and located adjacent the main rails 7 and 8 of the track, thesepoint rails being supported in a manner not shown, but well known in the art, to adapt them to be swung laterally into and out of switching position relative to the main rails. The point-rails 5 and 6 are connected, adjacent their pointed extremities,

otally connected at llwith clips 12 rigidly.

secured to the point-rails 5 and 6.

Cooperating with the switch-point structure described and comprising the rails 5 and 6 together with the connector therebetween, are cam plates 13 and 14 shown as spiked at 15 and 16, respectively, to one of the ties 17 and directly beneath the switchpoint structure at opposite sides of the track construction, preferably closely adjacent the pointed extremities of the point-rails 5 and 6, as shown. The upper surfaces of the cam plates are provided with upwardly converging inclined cam surfaces 18 and 19, these plates being abruptly shouldered as represented at 20 at which shoulders they extend closely adjacent to. and oppose, the inner flanges of therails 7 and 8 as shown of the one plate in Fig. 3.

The cam surfaces 18 and 19 are so disposed, as shown, that when the switch-point structure is in' the position shown in Fig; 1, the point-rail 6 will be in engagement with the cam surface 18 of the plate 14 and the point rail 5 will be in engagement with the cam surface 19 of the plate 13; and

when the switch-point structure is thrown gagement with the cam surface 19 of the T plate 14., j

The parts are furthermore so constructed'and arranged that as the switch-point structure moves from one to the other of the positions it occupies, and thus rides up cam surfaces of the plates 13 and 14, the switch-point structure is placed under tension, so that assoon as it passes over the crests 21 of the plates 13 and 14 its inherent elasticity forces it downwardly along cam portions of these plates and into close engagement with the adjacent main rail, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam surface 18 'ding the point-rail to a position in whic it engages the upper surface of the innerflange From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that it is not necessary that the operator force the switch-point structure to the final position, but only part way, the remainder of the throw being antomatically effected by the engagement of the switch-point structure with those of the camming surfaces which incline down-' wardly toward the main rail against which the switch point structure is to be moved. Furthermore, the switch point structure having once moved to adjusted position, it is rigidly held therein against accidental displacement.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my 1nvention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and cam means operating in the movement of said structure beyond a certain position to automatically complete the throw of said structure, to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pres sure of said last-referred-to point-rail 'against the main rail.

2. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and cam means engageable by said structure in the movement of the latter beyond a certain position and along which said structure automatically moves to complete the throw, to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

3. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switch point structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and

cam means with which said structure in tensioned condition engages in the movement of said structure beyond a certain position and along which it moves to complete the throw, to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in en gagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rails against the main rail.

4. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and a member located adjacent said structure and haying a cam portion inclining downwardly toward one of the main rails and engageable by said structure to complete the throw thereof, to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam portion being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

5. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and a member located adjacent the outer extremity of one of said point-rails and having'a cam portion inclining downwardly toward one of the main rails and engageable by said extremity in tensioned condition to complete the throw of said structure, to force said last-referred-to point-rail sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam portion being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

6. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and cam means operating automatically upon partial movement of said structure in either direction to complete the throw thereof to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred to point-rail against the main rail.

7. In a railway-track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and cam means engageable by said structure upon .partialmovement thereof in either direction and along which the latter moves, to complete the throw to force one of said pointrails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

8. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and cam means engageable by said structure in tensioned condition upon partial movement thereof in either direction and along which said structure moves to complete the throw to force one of said point-rails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said cam means being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

9. In a railway track construction, the combination with its main rails, of a switchpoint structure cooperating therewith and comprising a pair of point-rails and means connecting said point-rails together, and a member located adjacent said structure and having upwardly converging cam surfaces engageable by said structure in its movement in opposite directions, respectively, to complete the throw to force one of said pointrails sidewise against the adjacent main rail said member being so constructed and arranged that said structure remains in engagement with said cam surface after the throw of said structure, thereby maintaining continuing pressure of said last-referred-to point-rail against the main rail.

10. In a railway track construction, the

combination with its main rails, of a switchengagement therewith after the throw of the latter, thereby maintaining said lastreferred-to point-rail in pressed condition against said main rail.

HERMAN H. DIEHL. 

